"One may hesitate to make difficult decisions, especially when we face uncertainty and evaluate the risks associated with a final decision, but these challenges can be overcome by learning the COMPETENCIES OF A STRATEGIC THINKER"
Recently, my good friend José Antonio Quesada Palacios, who was brilliant vice president of the National Banking and Securities Commission , was named as the new President of the National College of Counselors Professional, Independent of Companies (CNCPIE).
THE VIDEO CLIP SHOWN ABOVE THIS TEXT IS IN SPANISH, AN APOLOGY FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE
Toño, as I call him because of the friendship that unites us, invited me to participate in my capacity as Strategic Consultant, to the First Congress of said College, since, among other topics, they would carry out a survey and review of the College's strategic planning.
ABOVE THIS TEXT YOU CAN APPRECIATE THROUGH A VIDEO CLIP THE WELCOME OFFERED TO US BY THE RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS (PUEBLA) DR. LUIS ERNESTO DERBEZ
I gladly accepted the challenge and that is how I headed towards the University of the Americas Puebla. where we were received by its rector, Dr. Luis Ernesto Derbez.
While I was driving along the Mexico - Puebla & Cholula Federal Highway, I was listening to that old and stimulating song "Cantares" by the Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, whose main verses say:
"Walker, your footprints are the path and nothing more; Walker, there is no path, the path is made by walking. By walking the path is made, and when you look back you see the path that will never be trodden again. Traveler there is no road, but wakes in the sea"
These stanzas made me reflect that a Strategic Consultant is similar to the knights-errant of the Middle Ages, who traveled to different places in search of new challenges to rescue princesses and kingdoms from the fearsome dragons.
Similar to these knights-errant, consultants and counselors "make the path by walking" but in this case to support and sometimes rescue companies and organizations, but, above all, human beings who need support to exploit their potential to the fullest, making them aware that they must self-discover, within themselves, the force that will drive them to full realization.
Knights errant in modern terms, not only "make the way by walking", as they also apply strategies to help their clients:
1) Taming Dragons (The Competition).
2) Align Elves (The Suppliers).
3) Mitigate the power of sinister Kings (Governments and authorities).
4) Strengthen strategic alliances (Customers).
5) Rescue princesses in distress (Products and services).
6) Put the Court and its Nobles (Board of Administration) in order.
Finally, and after my reflections on what it means to be a Counselor - Consultant, I arrived at my destination at the University of the Americas in Cholula Puebla, where the sessions of this the National College of Counselors Professional, Independent of Companies
(CNCPIE) began, in where Toño was already waiting for us to give the signal for the start of activities.
STRATEGIC THINKERS
The National College of Counselors Professional, Independent of Companies (CNCPIE), aims to be an organization aimed at the healthy growth of organizations in Mexico, through the professionalization of Independent Counselors, and strengthen Corporate Governance in organizations to create sustainable value in society.
Given the orientation that the CNCIPE has towards Corporate Governance, it is evident that, when a company has institutionalized and implemented corporate governance, in the board meetings the counselors make use of the balanced scorecard, touching on four major indicators: financial, market, internal processes and innovation.
Therefore, company counselors have experienced an evolution where they have practically become "Strategic Advisors" that is, "Strategic Thinkers"
💡Strategic Thinking helps us see "The Forest and not get lost in the details of the trees", to focus on what really matters and thus make intelligent decisions using the four macro indicators mentioned above.
Counselors - Consultants know that the appropriate point to make intelligent decisions not only depends on the experience one has on a subject, but also on the level of self-awareness. The more we know ourselves and the business, the greater our skill in interpreting facts.
💡Strategic Thinking helps to overcome the limitations one faces such as the lack of information and the incomplete vision of the external forces that surround us.
The most successful leaders are continually seeking new information because they want to understand the territory in which they operate. They need to keep an eye on new trends and identify emerging patterns that could be interesting for their work.
💡 Strategic Thinking, involves the analysis of opportunities and problems from a broad perspective, as well as the understanding of the potential impact that our actions could have on the future of the organization and our work teams.
When we think strategically, that is when we are able to see beyond the day-to-day work and observe the larger environment in which we operate and ask ourselves how things work in the company and industry in which we participate and how they should. to function.
In this way we proceed to obtain data and interpret it, using the knowledge we have acquired to make intelligent decisions which we implement in the most appropriate way possible to the circumstances.
Thinking this way is how we ensure that every decision and action we take drives us to the results that matter.
Thinking strategically is not easy, because many directors and managers believe that they do not have the time to think about the future of the company and this is understandable, because when one is faced with immediate demands and deadlines, we find time to carefully review our actions. and decisions in light of strategic objectives can be very complicated.
Thinking strategically is more than dedicating a couple of hours a week, since it involves everything from establishing priorities for work teams to planning daily work, anticipating the results of decision-making, aligned with the purpose and strategy of the organization.
Strategic consultant William Schiemann discovered through research carried out in several companies that only in 14% of the organizations he investigated, his collaborators have a clear understanding of strategy and direction.
Therefore, a conscious effort is necessary to think strategically on a regular basis, actively asking questions and learning about the purpose and key objectives of the organization. The pros and cons and possible repercussions on decision-making and actions must be evaluated.
Sometimes projects that the team has been working on for years may have to be shelved in favor of new initiatives that could add more value. And in some cases, it is possible that some opportunities must be declined, even if they look interesting, simply because they are not aligned with priorities.
One may hesitate to make difficult decisions, especially when faced with uncertainty and evaluating the risks associated with a final decision, but these challenges can be overcome by learning the COMPETENCIES OF A STRATEGIC THINKER
Individuals who think strategically demonstrate specific personal traits, behaviors, and attitudes, some of which may seem contradictory. These competencies include:
Curiosity. It is being genuinely interested in what is happening in the business unit, company or industry and in the broader business environment.
Consistency. It is striving to achieve goals and persistently pursuing objectives.
Agility. Ability to adapt approaches and change ideas when new information suggests the need to do so.
Focus on the future. Constantly consider how the conditions in which a group and its company operate may change in the coming months and years and be attentive to opportunities that may be valuable in the future, as well as threats that may arise.
Exterior focus. The ability to identify trends and patterns in the industry and understand their implications. Be willing to ask for feedback from people outside the company to help improve the business.
Frankness and openness. Welcome new ideas from supervisors, colleagues, collaborators and external stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers and business partners.
Amplitude. Continually work to expand knowledge and experience so that connections and patterns can be seen in seemingly unrelated fields of knowledge.
Questioning. Constantly asking yourself, should I do what I'm doing? Is the team focused on the right things? Is there anything I can stop doing? Should I change my approach? Does what I am doing Create Value?
Implementing and adapting these competencies , it will help to "take a quantum leap" to have a broader vision, so that one can continually ask how our actions create value (or where they do not) to the company. By learning to do this regularly, you can maximize your contribution to the organization and prepare yourself for growth.
THE VIDEO CLIP SHOWN ABOVE THIS TEXT IS IN SPANISH, AN APOLOGY FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE
A strategic thinker, he is a professional rebel. Nothing happens until an organization or individual becomes upset with the status quo; The mission is the most specific change objective in which you must be committed to bring about the change." Morrie Shechtman
Thinking strategically is more than dedicating a couple of hours a week, since it involves everything from establishing priorities for work teams to planning daily work, anticipating the results of decision-making, aligned with the purpose and strategy of the organization.
How to keep an eye on the long term amid a sea of short-term demands?
At Omniverso - eaBC , we provide you with practical tips and advice to help you see the big picture in every aspect of your daily work, from decision making to setting your team's priorities.